Genx Notes

Tag: sampling rate

  • The Basics of Audio: Sampling Rate, Bit Depth, and Bitrate

    The Basics of Audio: Sampling Rate, Bit Depth, and Bitrate

    Introduction

    Audio, as the name suggests, refers to “sound.” In the digital world, sound information is stored as audio files. There are various formats for audio files, such as WAV, AIFF, FLAC, ALAC, MP3, and AAC.

    Audio Basics

    AD Conversion (Analog to Digital Conversion)

    The process of converting and saving analog sound to digital format is called sampling or AD conversion. When converting to digital format, the analog waveform is read and replaced with 0s and 1s.

    DA Conversion (Digital to Analog Conversion)

    To listen to digital audio, it needs to be converted back to analog format. This process is called DA conversion. The sound you hear from speakers or headphones is the sound converted from digital to analog.

    What is Sampling Rate?

    Sampling rate is the number of times per second that an analog signal is converted (sampled) to digital data. The unit used is Hz (Hertz). The CD format has a sampling rate of 44.1kHz, which means it samples the audio 44,100 times per second.

    What is Bit Depth?

    Bit depth represents the number of levels used to reproduce the sound volume from silence to maximum volume. The CD format uses 16 bits, which means it can represent 65,536 levels of volume difference. The higher the bit depth, the more precisely the volume can be represented.

    The Difference Between 16-bit and 24-bit

    The difference between 16-bit and 24-bit may not be noticeable for loud music, but it can be perceived for very quiet sounds. 24-bit can represent small volume changes more precisely than 16-bit.

    The Relationship Between Bit Depth and Dynamic Range

    The human ear is said to have the ability to hear a dynamic range of 120dB. 16-bit can represent a dynamic range of 96dB, while 24-bit can represent 144dB. For music with drastic volume differences, such as classical music, 24-bit is more suitable.

    Calculating Bitrate

    Bitrate can be calculated by multiplying the sampling rate by the bit depth and the number of channels. The bitrate of a CD-format WAV file is 1411.2kbps.

    The Present and Future of Audio

    Currently, 96kHz/24-bit audio is popular in the DTM (Desktop Music) world. While this provides very high sound quality, it also has the disadvantage of larger file sizes. Depending on the music genre, 44.1kHz/16-bit may be sufficient.

  • I have a Lofi hiphop beat, but it’s too clean. How can I make it sound like a Lofi hiphop beat?

    I have a Lofi hiphop beat, but it’s too clean. How can I make it sound like a Lofi hiphop beat?

    I totally get it! Lofi hip hop is all about that warm, fuzzy, and nostalgic vibe. To give your beat a more lofi hip hop feel, try these techniques to add some dirt and character:

    1. Add tape hiss: Use a tape hiss plugin or add a subtle noise floor to your track. This will give your beat a warm, analog feel.
    2. Distort the drums: Use a distortion pedal or plugin to add grit and crunch to your drums. This will help them sound more like they’re coming from an old cassette tape.
    3. Warm up the bass: Use a bass amp simulator or a warm EQ to give your bass a more vintage, rounded sound.
    4. Add vinyl crackle: Use a vinyl crackle plugin or add a subtle crackling noise to your track. This will give your beat a nostalgic, sampled-from-vinyl feel.
    5. Use nostalgic drum sounds: Replace your modern drum sounds with more retro-inspired ones. Think 808s, 909s, or sample-based drum kits.
    6. Add some warmth with tube saturation: Use a tube saturation plugin to add a warm, analog character to your sound.
    7. Experiment with bit-crushing: Use a bit-crusher plugin to reduce the bit depth and sample rate of your audio, giving it a more lofi, retro feel.
    8. Use a lofi hip hop drum pattern: Change up your drum pattern to something more laid-back and jazzy, with a focus on snares on the 2nd and 4th beats.
    9. Add some ambient pads: Use ambient pads or textures to add depth and atmosphere to your track. Think warm, fuzzy synth sounds.
    10. Limit and compress: Use a limiter and compressor to squash your dynamics and give your track a more cohesive, relaxed feel.
    11. Try a different drum processing chain: Experiment with different drum processing techniques, such as parallel compression, transient design, or using a drum buss compressor.
    12. Add some imperfections: Intentionally add some subtle imperfections, like timing errors or slight pitch variations, to give your track a more human, lofi feel.
    13. Use a different EQ approach: Focus on boosting the low end and high end, while cutting the midrange, to create a more warm and balanced sound.
    14. Add some ambiance with reverb: Use a plate or room reverb to add ambiance and depth to your track.
    15. Experiment with different sampling rates: Try rendering your track at different sampling rates, like 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz, to see if it gives you a more lofi sound.

    Remember, the key to creating a lofi hip hop sound is to experiment and find the right balance of warmth, grit, and character. Don’t be afraid to try new things and make mistakes – it’s all part of the process!